Coin controlled switch



y 1932- c. FLEISCHER 1,861,384

CQIN CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed May 8, 1928 INVENTOR 671667266 Fleischer wa-ruzszs W,

W W WRNEY Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES FATE T OFFICE CHARLES FLEISCHER, OF BRUQBKLYN, NEW YQJRK, ASSIGNQZR TQ d. MEYER, OF

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TLLTNUIS (.RDTN GUNTRULLEIDJ SWITQH Application filed May fl,

This invention relates to electric switches, and has particular reference to a coin controlled switch which While not exclusively restricted to such use, is especially designed to be employed in connection with a vending machine of the type set forth in U. S. Letters Patent N 0. 1,770,305, dated July 8, 1930.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an improved coin controlled electric switch which is arranged in a circuit including an electrically operated movable member, which switch comprises relatively movable spring engageable contacts, a coin releasable latch mechanism normally holding the contacts disengaged and a connection between the movable element and the latch mechanism which is operable to restore said latch mechanism to normal condition when the movable element has completeda predetermined movement alter the coin has released the latch mechanism.

The invention further comprehends a coin controlled electric switch of the character set forth and for the purpose specified which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation, which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is thoroughly reliable and highly eificient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other obgects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the switch illustrating the same in its normal opened condition.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the same in its closed condition.

F i ure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view 7 taken approximately on the line H ofhigure 2. I

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 and 11 designate respectively Serial l lo. 2%,088.

on the arm 12 and a lug 17 on the bracket 13 I and functions to effect the engagement of the contacts 10 and iii A latch mechanism is provided for holdi g the contacts 10 and it in spaced non-contacting position against action oil the spring 15. The latch mechanism includes a latch trigger 18 which is "fulcrumed l9 to the contact arm 12 and which is provided with nose 20 :t'or engagement'with a shoulder 21 of a tr ger retaining member d 22. The trigger retaining member is carried by or forms part oi the arm 23 of a lever 2 1- which is fulcrumed at 25 to the bracket 13, The latch trigger is provided with a trigger pin 26 which extends through the slotted portion 27 of a coin chute 28 so that the trigger pin is disposed in the path of movement of a coin 29 when the same is inserted in the upper end oil the coin chute and moves gravitationally therethrough. The tri "get" is properly weighted so as to be over alanced by the coin oi? the proper denomination. The lever 2% is provided with an arm 30 which is connected by a rod 31 to a mechanism for oscillating the same. The mechanism for oscillating the rod 31 may be of any type but for the purposes of illustration this mechanism includes a crank 32 operatively connected with the shaft 33 of a worm wheel 34 which is adapted to be turned by a Worm gear 35 on a shaft 36 which is operatively connected with the shaft 37 of a motor 38. The motor is arranged in a circuit which includes a feed wire 39 leading from the positive pole of the source of supply to the contact 10, the contact ll being connected by a feed wire section l0 which leads to one pole of the motor. The opposite pole of the motor is connected by a return wire 41 to the negative pole of the source of supply.

In operation, with the switch parts in the position illustrated in Figure 1, it IS obvious that a coin inserted in the coin chute and gravitating therethrough Will strike the tr1gger pin 26 over balancing the latch tr1 ger 18 to swing the nose 20 upwardly out 0 engagement with the shoulder 21 of the trigger retaining member 22 Immediately the spring 15 functions to swing the trigger arm '12 so as to en age the contact 10 with the conthereby swinging the upper arm lever 24 to the left or in a counter clockwise direction to the dotted line position illus-- trated in Figure 2. This causes the stop shoulder 21 to again move past the nose 20 which then drops onto the upper arcuate surface 43 of the member 22. The return movement of the rod 31 swin s the arm 23 of the lever 24 in the opposite irection, the nose 20 of the latch trigger 18 riding on the surface 43 until the shoulder 21 contacts with the nose 20. The member 22 continuing its movement shifts the latch-trigger therewith and swings the contact arm 12 against the action of the spring 15 by momentum until the contacts 10 and 11 are separated or disengaged to break the circuit. Obviously the coin 29 after striking the trigger pin 26 is deflected and descends past the pin into a suitable coin receptacle not shown.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that a coin controlled electric switch has been devised by virtue of which an electric circuit including an electrically operated moving element may by the proper presentation of the coin, effect the closing of the circuit until the moving element has performed a certain function, after which the moving element restores the switch to its normal opened condition for breaking the circuit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circuit including an electrically operable element, a controlling switch for said circuit comprising a pair of relatively movable contacts, means tending to effect engagement of said contacts constantly, a retaining element adjacent said contacts, a latch on one of said contacts and engaging said retaining element for normally holding said contacts apart, a release arm rigidly secured to said latch, and means operatively connecting said retaining element with said electrically operable element for actuating said retaining element to reestablish operative engagement with said. latch to reopen said swltch from said retaining element.

2. In a circuit including an electrically operable element, a controlling switch for said circuit comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, means tending to effect engagement of said contacts constantly, a retaining element adjacent said movable contact, a shoulder on the retaining element; a latch pivotally mounted on said movable contact and engaging the shoulder on said retaining element for normally holding said contacts apart, a release arm rigidly connected to said latch, and means operativel connecting said retaining element and sai electrically operable element for actuating said retaining element to reopen said switch subsequent to the closing thereof by the release of said latch from said retaining element.

3. In a circuit including an electrically operable element, a controlling switch for said circuit comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, means tending to effect engagement of said contacts constantly, a retaining element pivotally mounted adjacent said movable contact, a. shoulder on the retaining element, a latch pivotally mounted on said movable contact and engaging the shoulder on said retaining element for normally holding said contacts apart, a release arm rigidly connected to said latch, and means operatively connecting said retaining element and said electrically operable element for actuating said retaining element to rock said retaining element about its pivot to reengage said latch and thereby actuate said movable contact to reopen said switch subsequent to the closing thereof by the release of said latch from said retaining element.

4. In a circuit including an electrically operable element, a controlling switch for said circuit comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact pivotally mounted adjacent said fixed contact, means tending to effect engagement of said contacts constantly, a retainin element pivotally mounted adjacent sai movable contact, a shoulder on said retaining element, a latch pivotally mounted on said movable contact and engaging the shoulder on said retaining element for normally holding said contacts apart, a. release arm rigidly connected to said latch, and means operatively connecting said retaining element and said electrically operable element for actuating said retaining element to rock said retaining element about its pivot to reengage said latch and thereby rock said movable contact about its pivot to reopen said switch subsequent to the closing thereof by the release of said latch from said retaining element.

5. In a circuit including an electrically operable motor, a switch for controlling said circuit comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, a. stationary bracket supporting subsequent to the release of said latch the fixed contact a lever supporting said movable contact and pivotally mounted on said stationary bracket, a spring tending to rock said lever about its pivot to efiect engagement of said contacts, a retaining segment pivotally mounted on said stationar bracket, a latch pivotally mounted on said movable contact lever and normally engagin a shoulder on the retaining segment to hol the contacts apart, a releasing arm on said latch, a crank arm ada ted for rotation by said motor, and a reach rod operatively connecting said crank and said retaining segment for rocking the retaining segment about its pivot to engage the latch and thereby rock the movable contact arm about its pivot to open the switch subsequent to the closing thereof by the release of the latch from the retaining segment.

Signed at Brookl n in the county of Kings and State of New OIli, this 7th day of April,

CHARLES FLEISCHER. 

